Avalon Marshes
Reconnecting with nature
Rediscovering the joy of photography
Birds are pretty cool. Breathtaking, even. And often overlooked – I’m no exception there. But there’s something about a bird in flight, the wings spreading, the air their playground.
Being based in the south west, my partner and I are lucky enough to be local to many fantastic nature spots – the RSPB Ham Wall Nature Reserve in Somerset, home to the Avalon Marshes, being just one of them.
Having acquired my father’s DSLR with a telephoto lens – a Canon 4000D with a EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 – I was keen to shoot around and see what would pop up, and what I could capture in effectively my first time birdspotting.
We were lucky enough to see the reserve’s ‘big three’, a trio of the largest birds on the reserve, and some of the most rare: a bittern, a marsh harrier, and a great white egret. Each are fantastic to spot, but all three in one go – and on my first visit? Spectacular.
Being behind the lens of a camera is something I haven’t done for what feels like a decade. Of course, having a smartphone in my pocket with a semi-decent camera has been fantastic for small moments, but it doesn’t replace the actual feel and dedication of a singular device. Following targets, focusing, changing the aperture and ISO to match have all been brilliant learnings, and being able to look away from a phone screen that’s constantly pinging with notifications, and just focus on what’s in front of me, has been incredible.
I must admit, I have been remiss with nature over the years – especially after living in a city and being used to the concrete jungle. However, being surrounded by lots of green, lovely birds, and incredible views, it felt remarkably easy to soak it all in, and really appreciate just what’s around. And to capture it on camera, has also been a joy to behold.
